Locking device for boat oars



April 5, 1969 L. DE MURO I ocxmc DEVICE FOR BOAT OARS Filed Jan. 20. 1958 United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOAT OARS Louis De Muro, Yonkers, N.Y. Application January 20, 1958, Serial No. 709,839

2 Claims. (Cl. 9-1) This invention relates to rowboats and more particularly to a lock for the oars thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and efiicient device for securely locking a pair of oars within a rowboat when not in use to prevent unauthorized use of the rowboat and theft of the oars.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for boat oars than can be simply operated by a single person, is virtually foolproof, and which has no completely disengageable or releasable elements that might become lost.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a locking device of the type described that has a minimum number of parts, is readily installed on existing row boats and new production models, and which can be manufactured in large quantities at relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking device for boat oars made in accordance with the present invention in operative use within a rowboat;

Figure 2a is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of certain parts of the locking device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 2b is a view similar to Figure 2a, showing another part of the present invention; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view, with parts broken away, of the apparatus shown in Figure 2a, in an open or unlocked position.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, a rowboat embodying an oar lock ing device made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a hull 12, a center seat 13, and an end seat 14 which may be either at the front or rear end of the boat.

The actual locking mechanism includes a channel shaped bail member 16 having a pair of outwardly extending flanges 17 that have holes 18 for securing the bail beneath the end seat 14, such as by screws, bolts, rivets, or the like. This bail is arranged to receive the blade ends of a pair of oars 33 that are to be locked in place within the hull 12 of the boat. The locking device further includes a substantially T-shaped member 20 having a base 21 and depending stem 23 which is secured beneath the center seat 13, such as by screws 22, or any other suitable means such as rivets, bolts, or the like. A pair of spaced parallel semi-circular downwardly opening plates 24 are carried on the bottom side of the base plate 21. These semi-circular plates 24 are adapted to coop erate with similar, juxtaposed, upwardly opening semicircular plates 26 carried by a vertical slide member 27.

This slide member has a central slot 25 that slidably receives the stem 23 of the T-shaped member, so as to be selectively movable between the normally closed position shown in Figure 2a and the adjusted open position 27a shown in Figure 3. A transverse bore 30 in the mid section of the stem 23 slidably receives the hail of a padlock 31 to secure the slide 27 in the normally closed or locked position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2a. However, a stop member 28 carried by the free end of the stem 23 prevents accidental disassembly of the slide 27 when the device is unlocked and the slide is moved to the open position 27a illustrated in Figure 3.

In actual use, the locking device is moved to the open position illustrated in Figure 3 and the blades 32 of the oars are placed into the channel shaped portion of the bail member 16. At this time, the oars 33 are placed into position between the downwardly and upwardly facing arcuate plates 24, 26, respectively, and the slide 27a is raised to the lock position, following which the padlock 31 is secured in place in the manner shown in Figure 2a. In this position, it is virtually impossible to remove or dislodge the oars from their secured position, until the padlock 31 is removed. 1

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a rowboat having a hull with a center seat and an end seat extending transversely therewithin, a device for locking a pair of oars comprising, in combination, a channel shaped bail member secured beneath the end seat of the hull for slidably receiving the blade ends of a pair of oars therewithin, a retractable oar shank receiving assembly secured beneath the center seat of the hull selectively locking the oar shanks therewithin, said retractable oar shank receiving assembly comprising a T-shaped member having a flat base plate and a depending stem, said flat base plate having a semi-circular band opening downward, a slide plate slidably supporting upon said depending stem of said flat base plate having a semicircular band opening toward said semi-circular band of said fiat base plate for reciprocating movement between a normally closed and an adjusted open position relative to said semi-circular band of said fiat base plate, lock means selectively securing said slide plate in said closed position,

said semi-circular sections carried by said base plate and said slide plate defining an annular band in said closed position, and said lock means comprising a transverse bore intermediate the opposite ends of said stem for receiving the hail of a padlock to secure said slide plate in said closed position.

2. In a rowboat as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a stop member at the free end of said, stem for preventing disassembly of said slide in response to move ment thereof to said open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent Rogers Feb. 14, 1950 

